Stephen Capaldi: Man who dismembered wife of 30 years and disposed of body over comic book store ‘dream’ gets 44 years
BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: A cheating husband who had a "dream" of starting a comic book store is sentenced to prison over the brutal murder of his wife of 30 years. Stephen Capaldi of Sellersville, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to murdering his wife Elizabeth 'Beth' Capaldi, 55.
The convicted murderer was sentenced to 22 to 44 years behind bars over murder and other charges. According to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, the case was resolved after Capaldi's arrested four months ago reported by Law and Crime.
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What are the charges against Capaldi?
Capaldi pleaded guilty to multiple charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, possessing an instrument of crime, obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function, and third-degree murder.
Investigators were first informed about Elizabeth being in danger on October 12, 2022, when her daughter Emma reported the victim's disappearance two days after her husband smothered her with a pillow while she was asleep, dismembered her body in the basement, and disposed of the body remains, reported Law and Crime.
Capaldi made bizarre internet searches
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Capaldi made numerous bizarre searches as: "how to disappear and never be found," "How to get away with murder," "how to delete Facebook messages," "how to control your dark impulses," "Reciprocating saw," "DIY blacklight," and "FBI Handbook of Crime Scene Forensics."
Capaldi carried on a six-month affair
As per the grand jury report, Capaldi "found someone (his mistress) that he loved and who supported his dream of opening a comic book store with his brother while his wife did not." It was confirmed from his phone records that he was involved in an "emotional and sexual affair" with another woman for six months. The report established that the defendant knew exactly where the victim was and murdered her on his own accord.
"Do what you think you have to do," said the defendant when his daughter told him she was going to inform the police about Elizabeth's disappearance, their daughter told. In a victim impact statement, Emma said that her own father should "never be free from prison to finally leave my mother’s memory in peace," she said before adding "My mother is dead, and my father killed her. I have the love of friends, family, even strangers, but my own father took the person who loved me most."